Northwest Religion.

Young Adults To Be Focus Of New Minister

April 28, 2000|By Tim Pareti.

MT. PROSPECT — Rev. Marc Schwichtenberg said it was God's calling that he and his wife, Shane, move to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mt. Prospect from Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in East Dundee.

"It just became very clear that God wanted us to come this way," said Schwichtenberg, who was named associate pastor at St. Paul this month. "We've been received very warmly. It's a great church."

He performed his first service at St. Paul on April 9. He and his wife, who live in Carpentersville, plan to buy a house in Mt. Prospect in June.

Schwichtenberg was graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Ind., with a master of divinity in 1997. That same year, he became associate pastor at Immanuel.

At St. Paul, Schwichtenberg, 29, said his focus will be to design a ministry geared for young adults, "to help them grow closer to Jesus.

"My mission statement is to draw people to God in a relevant way," he said.

Senior pastor Bill Tucker said Schwichtenberg will assist with the church's outreach ministry.

"Marc is a great guy," Tucker said. "We're thrilled to have him. He's a gifted person."